From The Reading List

Texas Tribune: "Donald Trump and Beto O’Rourke go head-to-head in El Paso" — "President Donald Trump kicked off his first major rally of the year here the same way he campaigned during his successful 2016 bid: by unleashing a torrent of criticism on the media, pushing back against allegations of collusion with Russia, and promising once more to end illegal immigration and build a wall on the southern border.

"Across the street, one of his potential 2020 rivals — former Texas Congressman and El Paso native Beto O'Rourke — held a competing rally that drew thousands of people.

"Standing beneath an American flag flanked by red signs that read “finish the wall,” the president tossed plenty of fresh red meat to the capacity crowd, which periodically interrupted him with chants of 'build the wall!'

"The rally came as members of Congress reportedly agreed to the terms of a funding deal that would avert another partial government shutdown. Although last year’s breakdown was over funding for Trump's border wall, the impasse this week concerned bed space for detained undocumented immigrants."

NPR: "'Agreement In Principle' Reached On Border Security Funding, Top Republican Says" — "Congressional negotiators have reached what they are calling 'an agreement in principle' on a border-security spending agreement. Details of the agreement have not yet been released. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., says the full details will be released when the drafting of the bill is complete — a process that could be finished on Tuesday, at the earliest.

"The bipartisan deal was negotiated by members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and will address all seven spending bills that expired during the recent partial government shutdown. The package will not include disaster relief.

"Negotiators agreed to $1.375 billion for 'physical barriers' at the border — the same level that was agreed to in last year's Department of Homeland Security funding bill, according to multiple congressional sources. This will fund about 55 miles of fencing."

"On Monday, she and other activists will lead protestors in a counter rally to the president’s gathering that will include former congressman Beto O’Rourke, local leaders, taco trucks and teams of mariachis playing Bob Marley’s 'Get Up, Stand Up.'

"Their message: El Paso is safe, vibrant and open for business.

"'People are so eager to believe the worst of us in border towns,' said Ness-Garcia, a family law attorney and founder of Women’s March El Paso. 'We are proud El Pasoans. We will show America and the world who we really are.' "

"Trump is visiting El Paso on Monday for his first rally of 2019 – as he continues to try to rally support for the wall, but local leaders are calling the President out for falsely characterizing one of America’s safest big cities.

"'The border city of El Paso, Texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime — one of the highest in the entire country, and considered one of our nation’s most dangerous cities,' Trump said last Tuesday during his annual address. 'Now, immediately upon its building, with a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is one of the safest cities in our country. Simply put, walls work and walls save lives. So let’s work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.' "